“P. E.” stands for “Presiding Elder”. This title was once used in Methodist Churches to identify the person in charge of all the churches in a particular area of a state. In more modern times the title has been changed to “District Superintendent”.

The C.C. Scott Gravestone

This is the grave stone of C. C. Scott, an African American who moved to the Biggers, Arkansas area in the 19th century. Scott became quite wealthy, owning much farmland in the Biggers area as well as Scott’s Ferry on the Current River. When Scott died in 1926 he was buried on his land, but in later years the headstone was found laying in a ditch, the cemetery property apparently having been cleared and turned into farmland. Those who found the stone felt the Eddie Mae Herron Center was an appropriate place to display the stone.

C. C. Scott NEW LIGHT CIRCLE No. 299 JUNE 4, 1926

C. C. Scott, was an African American who moved to the Biggers, Arkansas area in the 19th century.

Supreme Royal Circle of Friends of the World

The text on the slanted top of the stone reads: SUPREME ROYAL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS OF THE WORLD and in the center there is a striding lion atop a triangle containing the letters R C F around the number 09, standing for Royal Circle Friends and 1909, the year the Circle was founded

The Supreme Royal Circle of Friends of the World was founded in 1909 in Forest City Arkansas by Dr. Richard A. Williams. This fraternal organization for black men had as its primary goal promoting the moral, physical, intellectual, and material welfare of its members.

The success of the Royal Circle was partly due to blacks’ mistrust of government and white owned banks. The Royal Circle of Friends offered great returns for small investments, with the support of friends, neighbors, churches, and respected black business leaders.

The fee for joining the Royal Circle, including a medical examination, was $2.50. Members then paid $1 per quarter, which paid $300 to the beneficiary after the member’s death.

For years to come, in rural black cemeteries loyalty to the Royal Circle of Friends was indicated by the distinctive headstones that displayed the organization’s symbol of the majestic lion and letters RCF.